United States President Donald Trump has threatened to launch fresh military strikes against Iran if Tehran fails to restrain Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese group backed by the Iranian government.
Trump issued the warning on Sunday in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform, even as senior officials from the United States and Iran opened a new round of peace talks in Switzerland aimed at preventing further escalation in the Middle East.
The US President accused Iran of allowing Hezbollah to destabilise the region and warned that Washington would respond with force if the situation worsened.
“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump wrote.
“If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder,” he added.
The comments came at a delicate moment, with diplomatic efforts underway to preserve a fragile ceasefire and reduce tensions involving Iran, Israel and Hezbollah.
The negotiations in Switzerland opened against the backdrop of renewed clashes in recent days between the Israeli military and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon.
The fighting has raised fears that the conflict could spread further across the region, drawing in more countries and armed groups.
According to reports, a memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday between the United States and Iran included provisions calling for a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon.
The agreement was seen as an important step towards easing tensions after a period of heightened military activity and threats of wider confrontation.
Speaking at the start of the talks in Switzerland on Sunday, US Vice President JD Vance expressed cautious optimism that the ceasefire arrangements could hold.
He said progress had been made in recent days to maintain calm in Lebanon and prevent another major outbreak of violence.
“I’ve seen great progress in the last couple of days in ensuring that the ceasefire holds in Lebanon,” Vance said.
Trump’s latest remarks, however, highlighted the fragile nature of the diplomatic process and the deep mistrust that continues to define relations between Washington and Tehran.
The United States and Iran have had a difficult relationship for decades, marked by sanctions, military tensions and disagreements over regional influence and Iran’s nuclear programme.
Hezbollah has often been at the centre of those tensions. Founded in the early 1980s, the group is a major political and military force in Lebanon and is backed financially and militarily by Iran. The United States and several Western countries classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation, although the group also holds political influence within Lebanon.
Israel, meanwhile, views Hezbollah as one of its biggest security threats because of its military capabilities and its close ties to Tehran.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified at different periods over the years, often increasing fears of a broader regional war involving Iran and its allies.
Trump’s warning suggests that the United States remains prepared to take military action if it believes Iran is failing to control groups allied to it across the Middle East.
The peace talks in Switzerland are therefore being closely watched by the international community, which hopes they will produce a lasting reduction in hostilities and prevent a wider conflict in an already unstable region.
For now, diplomats face the difficult task of balancing dialogue with the reality of continued violence on the ground.
While Washington says it wants peace and stability, Trump’s latest message leaves little doubt that the United States is also prepared to respond militarily if it believes its interests or those of its allies are threatened.
As discussions continue in Switzerland, the coming days are expected to determine whether diplomacy can succeed in preserving the ceasefire or whether renewed tensions could push the region closer to another major conflict.